158 SENECA FICTION, LEGENDS, AND MYTHS tBxH. ann. sj 



had made him a captive in such manner that he could not escape to 

 return to them. 



Years passed and the boy grew into manhood. In looks and man- 

 ner he was the exact double of his father. He had become a great 

 hunter and was very fond of Idlling turkeys. 



One evening on his return from hunting he found only the ui)per 

 half of his mother's body lying on her bed, while the otlier half was 

 gone. She told him that while she was bending over a kettle, cook- 

 ing, two men came into the room and, stealing up behind her, with 

 a single blow cleft her body in two; that they then (led with the 

 lower half, leaving her to die. She had crawled on her hands to her 

 bed. 



The youth, who was in terrible grief by reason of his mother's 

 misfortune, e.xclaimed: "Oh, mother! you can not live. Oh! you 

 will surely die." But she consoled him by telling him that she had 

 healed her body and that she could live a long time as she was then; 

 and that, if she could recover by any means the lower half of her 

 body, she could cause the two parts to unite again, so that she would 

 be as well as ever. 



Moreover, calling her son to her side, she said to him : " Now yovi 

 are old enough to Icnow about such things, I will tell j'ou all that 

 you should loiow. This misfortune has come upon me through the 

 machinations of my sisters, who are six in number. There were 

 seven of us. AVhen I was unmarried wampum beads of great value 

 passed from me. This was true also of my sisters. But when I 

 married your father this ceased, and my sisters were very angry 

 with me. This is the reason why my sisters do not marry, for 

 they are Becoming very rich by selling the wampum beads which 

 they obtain in this manner. Since your father went away I again 

 pass wampum beads; and this is the reason that the lower 

 part of my body has been stolen by the two men, who were sent 

 here by my sisters. It now hangs in the lodge of public assembly, so 

 that the wampum beads may be gathered from it. You shall bring 

 back my body to me. I will give you the magic power to do it — 

 the orenda which will enable you to call to your assistance any being 

 or thing that you may need." Placing her head upon his shoulder 

 and her hand on his head, she continued : " You are my son, and I 

 am one of the Seven Sisters. Whatever you wish to do you will 

 now always be able to do by such aid as you may call on to assist 



you." 



After this annunciation she thrust her hand into her bosom and 

 drew therefrom a tiny black dog. Giving it to her son, she said: 

 " This little dog shall be a companion to you hereafter. It will aid 

 you." The youth exclaimed with delight, "Oh, mother! why did 

 you not give me this beautiful little dog long ago ? " The boy was. 



